Corendon Airline explores Gambia’s tourism market

As part of promoting tourism in The Gambia and to sell
the destination to the outside world, tourism stakeholders yesterday witnessed
the arrival of the Corendon International Airline with one hundred and
eighty-nine passengers on board,at the
Banjul International Airport.

The arrivals, who included investors, journalists and
photographers, were received at the airport by the Minister of Tourism and
Culture and senior officials from her ministry.

Speaking shortly after the landing of the aircraft, Fatou
Mass Jobe-Njie Minister of Tourism and Culture, said they are going to increase
the arrivals this year and are hoping with ‘Corendon “we can grow our
arrivals”.

She said the more arrivals the country have the more jobs
will be created.

The minister urged the tourists to tell people in Holland
about The Gambia and its tourist destination, after their experience in The
Gambia.

Minister Jobe-Njie told journalists that her Ministry is
working with other airlines which will also sell The Gambia.

“We are fully prepared for this coming season and last
season the arrival has grown up to 51 per cent and it was a resounding success
because last year we had 195 arrivals and this year it will be even better,”
she said.

The Tourism Minister used the opportunity to thank The
Gambia International Airline and the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority for a job
well done.

For his part, Atilay Uslu, CEO of Corendon International
Trade, said this was the first time his aircraft had come to The Gambia to see
if it would start operations in the country.

This is a marketing flight, he said, adding that the
flight came with different newspapers and television journalists, as well as
photographers, to see The Gambia and sell the country when they go back.

“The airline comes three times per week and November 1 we
will start full operations,” CEO Uslu said.

The airline and its passengers were to return after being
in the country for 24 hours.

Author: Njie Baldeh

Source: Picture: Tourism minister and other officials welcoming the guest at the airport